Another Pierre Cardin AMC showed up today on BarnFinds dot com: One Family Owned: 1973 AMC Javelin AMX “Pierre Cardin” It is not unusual for car manufacturers to link with premium brands outside the automotive industry to produce special edition vehicles. AMC wasn’t immune from the practice, although it tested either end of the fashion spectrum in 1973. Few will forget the Levis Trim Package on the Gremlin, but the Javelin strode upmarket with the Pierre Cardin Edition. This 1973 Javelin AMX is one of those cars, and it has been part of the same family since the day it drove off the lot. Its presentation is impressive for its age, and this gem would suit an enthusiast seeking a turnkey classic to park in their garage. After five decades, the time has arrived for it to find a new home. Therefore, the seller has listed it here on eBay in Anoka, Minnesota (for some reason the listing is now removed from eBay) AMC introduced the Javelin to its product range in late 1967 for the 1968 model year. The Second Generation model hit the showroom in 1971, following the prevailing industry practice where dimensions grew compared to its predecessor. This Javelin is the AMX version, purchased new by its current owners in 1973. It presents beautifully in Trans-Am Red with a contrasting Black vinyl top. The panels and paint are difficult to fault, with no visible significant flaws and tight and consistent gaps. There are a few minor marks and chips, but this is acceptable in an unrestored vehicle of this age. The vinyl is in as-new condition, and the overall impression is that this Javelin has been a cherished family member for fifty years. There are no signs of exterior rust, with the seller claiming the underside is equally spotless. The glass and trim are immaculate, as are the factory wheels. We must delve inside this Javelin to understand what separates it from mere mortals. The Pierre Cardin Edition brought unique interior trim that can divide opinions. The multicolor trim stripes aren’t subtle but are distinctive and in character with the era in which this car rolled off the line. We’ve seen a few of these over more than a decade at Barn Finds, with most looking tired and worn. This is the exception to that rule because there are no signs of upholstery or trim problems. The seatcovers are free from wear and stains, with the same true of the door trims, headliner, and carpet. The dash and machine-turned gauge fascia are as spotless as you could hope to find, and nothing shows signs of UV damage. The seller mounted an aftermarket radio/cassette player under the dash on that passenger side, which could be removed if the new owner prefers a more “stock” appearance. The factory AM radio works perfectly, and the air conditioning blows ice-cold. Powering this Javelin is the “baby” V8 from within its arsenal. The 304ci powerplant sends 150hp and 245 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission. The original owner lightened the load by selecting power assistance for the steering and brakes. Tighter emission regulations negatively impacted vehicle performance during the 1970s, and the Javelin was not immune from that trend. However, its performance figures matched or bettered those offered by its direct rivals like the Mustang and Camaro. The listing indicates this Javelin has 46,800 miles on the clock, and while the seller doesn’t mention supporting evidence, the ownership history may make the claim verifiable. It runs and drives perfectly, with plenty of power and a transmission that shifts smoothly. The winning bidder could fly in and proudly drive home behind the wheel of this survivor. The 1973 Javelin AMX has been one of the recent stars of the classic world, with values climbing significantly as potential buyers realize they tend to represent good value for money. The Pierre Cardin Package on this car increases its desirability, and the ownership history cements its place as an exceptional survivor. It has attracted an impressive thirty-one bids already, and I will be unsurprised if further action pushes the price comfortably past $20,000. Would you be interested in this gem at that price? I would hardly blame you if you were.
AMC definitely made some cool cars. We attended the American Motors Owners Association national convention in June and we were very impressed. They had a great turnout and the AMC owners are a very nice group of people. My dad says I must be an AMC fan because I named my sons Nash and Hudson (Nash-Kelvinator Corporation merged with Hudson Motor Car Company to form American Motors Corporation (AMC) on 1/14/54).
That's very easy to change! The interior was very nice, this car was sold new in The Netherlands in June 1973. Same owner since 1986.
Ambassador on BarnFinds dot com: Remarkably Preserved: 1971 AMC Ambassador Brougham Over the years, I’ve come to admire American Motors even more because they really were the underdogs of underdogs against the mighty “Big Three". They did quite a bit with very limited resources and didn’t blink twice about competing in the luxury arena. Although their top-of-the-line Ambassador was about 5 inches shorter and a not quite as wide as their competitors, AMC still offered a stylish and comfortable alternative that still looks good five decades later. This is one of the nicest examples of a 1971 AMC Ambassador Brougham 2-Door Hardtop that we’ve ever featured here on Barn Finds. It’s currently residing in Guttenberg, Iowa and is for sale on Ebay with an asking price of $21,900. The Dealer, Dave Brown Classic Rides, is also willing to listen to offers. Ambassadors had been restyled for 1970, so little changed for 1971 and they still came in three models: a 2-Door Hardtop, 4-Door Sedan, and 4-Door Station Wagon. The Dealer does a great job of providing photos, but not so great in sharing the car’s history or how a 52-year-old car can be in almost “like new” condition. The car’s build sheet shows that it was originally delivered to Hannay’s AMC & Jeep in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Royal Maroon metallic paint is an attractive color and has a beautiful shine. The white pin striping compliments the optional white vinyl top on the sporty “fastback” that looks to be in good shape. Based on the photos, I’m not seeing any issues with the chrome, trim, tinted glass, lenses or anything. It was also ordered with the optional rear bumper guards and wire wheel covers. AMC promised “limousine-like luxury for six passengers,” and the Ambassador’s cushy interior is both attractive and in remarkable condition. In trying to one-up the competition, All Season Air Conditioning came standard on Ambassadors. Other options on this luxury hardtop include power brakes, power steering, Adjust-O-Tilt steering wheel, and Speed Control. Like the car’s exterior, it’s hard to find any faults with this interior. The seats, door panels, carpet, instrument panel, and dash look great. Under the hood – no surprise – is a very clean and tidy engine bay. Another option ordered on this Ambassador was the 360-cubic inch V8 that could generate 245 horsepower when new. It is mated to a Shift Command Automatic Transmission. The mileage is listed at 57,000 and based on the overall nice condition of this Ambassador, inside and out, I’m believing that’s the original mileage. Of the 41,674 Ambassadors built for 1971, only 4,579 would be Brougham hardtops like this one. And this has to be one of the nicest examples out there.
funny you said that about wagon wheels or out dated aftermarket wheels.......you see so many beautifully restored cars with like $20 wheels. Is like the people ran out of money by the time they got to the wheels! Fernando
That Javelin has a Dutch registration, those wheels sell for over US$ 150 each in Europe. People don't even realise that they have trailer wheels on their classic cars, because trailers come with steel rims in that part of the world.
I think the same thing, they spend 40/60 grand on body/ paint and parts, “hey we gotta get wheels” “All we got left is 200 bucks”
When I lived in Cape Coral FL there was a place on DelPrado Blvd that would rent wheels and tires. I'm not sure how that worked, some of those wheel/tire sets could easily run into the thousands of dollars. If the renter could afford to put up the deposit that I (as the store owner) would want, he/she could likely afford to buy them.
Recent article on BarnFinds dot com about a "The Machine" that's for sale on eBay: Super Clean 1970 AMC Rebel Machine Years ago, I had an aged relative who had never gotten a driver’s license. He used to refer to cars as “machines”, I never once heard him use the words automobile, auto, or car to describe a four rubber-wheeled steel box. Well, if he had seen this 1970 AMC Rebel and called it a ‘Machine” he would have been spot on. Earlier in the week, I covered this 1969 AMC SC/Rambler, AMC’s hi-po offering for ’69, and now we have their ’70 entry in the form of a Rebel-based Machine. This car is in a bit better shape than the Scrambler so let’s check it out. The car is for sale here on eBay.it's located in Ozark, Missouri. The highest current bid is now $40,951 with the reserve not yet met. There is a BIN price of $75,000 available too. With just under 2,000 Machines produced, according to Hemmings, most had a red, white, and, blue paint scheme that was as outlandish as the SC/Rambler. Later in the production year, Hemmings further acknowledges that solid color versions were available too. The seller states that he has owned this Machine for about twelve years and managed to amass only 800 miles during that time. He adds, “Nice factory-colored enamel with only a few minor flaws. Blue paint in lower body gas road chips (see pics) Stripes are in very good shape. Chrome is also very nice. Parking and taillight lenses are great“. I will admit that it presents exceptionally well and any imperfections are more than likely due to very minor road rash – even 800 miles of use can’t avoid an errant stone here or there. I had forgotten that these came equipped with a hood-mounted tachometer, a feature that Pontiac made famous. It’s mounted on the rear edge of the hood scoop, a component that actually does channel air into a plenum and then into the air cleaner. Finally, Magnum 500-styled wheels round out the corners and are the perfect kicks for just such a car. Power comes about thanks to a 340 gross HP, 390 CI V8 engine. In this case, the intake manifold has been replaced with the “dealer installed option of aluminum Edelbrock 4 BBL intake manifold, headers, and a new 600 CFM Holley carb“. Really? I haven’t encountered such options for one of these; does that gel with anyone’s recollection? – the Hemmings review makes no mention. The original components are included in the sale so maybe it was a dealership swap? Anyway, the “Y” designation in the VIN authenticates this engine and a four-speed manual gearbox gets the go to the ground. The seller adds, “The car runs and drives as it should“. Inside, we find bucket seats separated by a central cushion that features a very patriotic fold-down armrest. The odometer reading is 3,900 miles but there is no claim to authenticity here – and if it were a genuine recording, it would be something to crow about. I mention that because the upholstery appears to have experienced very little usage – and there’s a reason for that as the seller explains, “All new carpet, headliner, seat covers, door panels, and armrests. The mirror needs replacing and the driver’s seat cushion is weak. The dash pad and dash are very nice“. The instrument panel is austere and the horizontal speedometer is not one that I immediately associate with usage in a top-drawer muscle car, but it’s hardly unheard of either. OK, no doubt about it, there’s no denying this Machine’s fine condition, it’s fabulous! But $75K worth of fabulous? Let’s take that one under advisement and discuss further; what says you?
In England they call a car a motor: nice motor, mate! British Slang For Car The way that cars dominate our lives even for those of us who don’t drive is hard to deny or ignore. They are everywhere, all the time, and we dedicate massive amounts of our public space to their use. Though they’ve existed for little more than a century, their influence on daily life has been enormous. In Britain, this is equally true as it is anywhere else, and out of this has arisen a great many varied slang terms for cars. Motor First we have one of the most common British slang terms which is simply a direct stand in for the word car, “motor”. While this one is certainly not as common today as it once was, it is definitely still widely used to mean car. From the north of Scotland to the south of England, you’ll hear this one used. It is if anything more common in Scotland than elsewhere. “I’ve got to go pick up the motor from the garage,” for example. Naturally, this term simply arose out of the fact that cars were first called “motorcars” when they were rolled out. It’s hard to say when it was specifically used in this way for the first time, though it was probably when cars were first commercially available.
1984 Eagle Wagon on BarnFinds dot com: Affordable and Practical: 1984 AMC Eagle Station Wagon It is a question I have often pondered. How effectively would AMC have competed against “The Big Three” had it had access to a decent budget? The company produced some innovative products, and while some of its models wouldn’t win an automotive beauty contest, we must give the company and its engineers credit for their efforts. One such vehicle is this 1984 Eagle Station Wagon. It brought the versatility of a Wagon with all-wheel-drive technology that other companies only adopted years later. This classic presents exceptionally well for its age, is equipped with some desirable factory options, and undoubtedly falls into the affordable category. It is listed here on Craigslist in Joseph, Oregon. It could be yours for $7,000 or a reasonable offer. AMC introduced the Eagle for the 1980 model year, basing its new offering on the Concord compact. It was initially available in Coupe, Sedan, and Station Wagon form, with the Spirit-based SX/4 and Kammback joining the lineup the following year. The styling wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was crisp, clean, and a worthy competitor to anything offered by the opposition. This Olympic White Wagon presents well for its age. The paint retains a healthy shine, with no significant flaws in either it or the panels. The vehicle has spent its life in dry climates, making its lack of substantial rust unsurprising. The seller identifies some developing areas on the repainted trim and the edges of the undercarriage. However, these don’t appear to be pressing problems, and addressing them in a home workshop would be a satisfying way to while away a few hours during the upcoming winter months. The trim and glass are in good order, and the roof rack is a practical addition to a Station Wagon that would turn heads wherever it goes. Assessing this Eagle’s interior reveals only minor faults requiring attention. The most obvious is the cracked steering wheel, which detracts from the overall presentation. Replacing it would make an enormous difference, and a brief online search unearthed several nice examples in the correct color for under $150. There is minor wear in the damage-prone rear cargo area, which is common on almost any Wagon. The problem isn’t severe and is in keeping with this classic’s survivor credentials. The seller added new speakers for the factory radio/cassette player, but there are no other visible aftermarket items. The carpet appears to be marked under the driver’s feet, although a deep clean might improve the situation. Otherwise, this interior is well above average. The leather and plaid cloth seatcovers are excellent. There are no signs of abuse or evidence of plastic succumbing to the rigors of age or UV rays. The Eagle scores plenty of points for factory options, with the new owner receiving air conditioning, power windows, a six-way power driver’s seat, and a tilt wheel. The high-riding stance of the Eagle Wagon gives some clues as to AMC’s innovative approach to the vehicle’s drivetrain configuration. While most manufacturers produced Wagons of this size with a rear-wheel-drive layout, AMC took a different approach which was only adopted by other manufacturers years later. Buyers could order their new Wagon with a four under the hood, but this classic features the 258ci six producing 115hp and 210 ft/lbs of torque. There is nothing startling about either figure, but what the Eagle does with it helps it stand apart from the opposition. Bolted to the six is a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission that feeds the power to two or all four wheels via a viscous center differential. In most situations, it gave the Eagle fairly typical handling and road-holding ability but exceptional traction on loose surfaces, ice, and snow. One update for the 1984 model year was a transition to a more user-friendly “Shift on The Fly” system for the all-wheel-drive system, addressing the shortcomings experienced with the previous engagement system. With no dual-range transfer case, these vehicles weren’t direct competitors to more dedicated off-roaders, but they had an edge over the average Station Wagon in adverse conditions. This Eagle is in excellent mechanical health and should be considered a turnkey classic. The seller recently serviced the transmission, replaced the coolant, and fitted new drive belts and a fuel filter. Night vision will have improved courtesy of new headlamps, and the braking system received fresh fluid. The Station Wagon proved the popular pick in the 1984 Eagle range, with 21,294 buyers selecting one out of a total sales figure of 25,535 vehicles. The seller’s price for this one looks highly competitive against recent sales results and could definitely be considered affordable. It has only been on the market for around a day, and I won’t be surprised if someone snaps it up pretty quickly. Are you tempted to be that person?
And another AMC showed up on BarnFinds dot com: Cheap Wheels V8! 1974 AMC Hornet A hallmark of American Motors from its formation in 1954 to the end of the line in 1988 was building and selling economical automobiles. During the 1960s, the Rambler American was the company’s compact offering, and it was finally retired in 1969. For 1970-77, AMC revived the Hornet nameplate and applied it to its all-new car in that market space. This 1974 edition is said to run well and has had some interior work done, but the paint and vinyl top are past their prime. Located in Treasure Island, California, this cheap wheel’s offering is available here on Craigslist for just $2,000 As was typical of AMC, the Hornet would provide a launching pad for lots of other products in the 1970s and 1980s — the subcompact Gremlin (and its successor, the Spirit), the upscale compact Concord, and the AWD Eagle. It was the company’s best-selling car during the energy crisis years of 1973-75, with more than 186,000 Hornets delivered in 1974, the year the seller’s car was hatched. The ’74 models were about the same as the ’73s but with stronger, federally mandated bumpers. The seller’s car has the 304 cubic inch V8 engine that had been in AMC products since the prior decade. Though the engine compartment cries for detailing, we’re told the motor runs well (and we assume the same applies to the automatic transmission). The odometer reading is 90,000 miles and the seller says it’s already turned over, so that’s a lot of traveling. We’re told the Hornet has been partially restored, but that seems to mainly apply to the upholstery. The carpet looks faded, so that may still need attention. No mention is made of the car having any rust, but the body has its share of dents and dings and not much could be done to improve the black paint. Plus the vinyl top looks like it could be a breeding ground for corrosion. But a running car for just $2,000 is hard to find these days!
